1997 COMMENTARY
Swiping Xmas Purchases
 - It's that time of year again when consumers start swiping, at a record rate, those little plastic cards to make purchases for the holiday season. (Dec 97)
Throwing In The Towel
 - Credit card accounts are changing hands at an unprecendented pace as more than $35 billion goes on the selling block. (Nov 97)
Oktoberfest II
 - With credit card delinquencies, credit card losses and consumer bankruptcies still at record levels you might assume there would be a drought on new credit card offers this Fall.(Oct 97)

Debt Consolidation 101: The Crash Course
 - A practical outline of steps you can take to lower your borrowing costs and a basic guide to understanding the cost of credit. Prepared for CardTrak by nationally recognized consumer advocates: Marc Eisenson, Gerri Detweiler and Nancy Castleman.(Oct. 97)

Juiced-Up Cards
 - A look at the good, bad and ugly of credit cards now being marketed to consumers with no credit history or past credit problems. In the underworld if your credit was lousy and you needed to borrow money you expected to pay a high interest rate and some kind of service fee referred to as "the juice". (Sept 97)

The Shakeout
 - The fundamentals of the credit card business are changing.. Who are the winners and the losers ? Is more consolidation on the horizon?(Aug 97)

Banc One Attacks Convenience Use
 - The TravelPlus VISA makes radical changes. Is it still a good deal? (Aug 97)

Mid-Year RoundUp
 - It's anything but a quiet summer for card issuers. The latest on the Ford Citibank Card, KISS VISA, phone cards and student ID cards plus some summer card tips.(July 97)

New Law Makes Credit Report Correcting Easier
 - A review of the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 1996 that takes effect October 1997. Written for CardTrak Online by the author of The Ultimate Credit Handbook.(July 97)

Summer's Flying Start
 - The two largest airline co-branded VISA/MasterCards celebrate their tenth anniversary this sumer and three new card programs take off. Plus an online credit card marketing skirmish begins.(June 97)

Too Much Of A Good Thing ?
 - The unexpected success of debit cards has VISA and MasterCard and consumers euphoric but merchants are not smiling.(May 97)

Cleaning Up Credit Repair
 - A new federal credit repair law that took effect April 1 will crimp the style of credit repair firms. Written especially for CardTrak Online by noted credit expert Gerri Detweiler.(May 97)

Spring Forward
 - Issuers come out swinging with new cobranded cards for baseball fans and TV fans. Also Giant VISA is involved in a messy divorce.(Apr 97)

And The Winner Is . . .
 - CardGame Sweepstakes Drawing is held in Florida Keys and here are the 1996 Grand Prize Winners.(Mar 97)

Seven Card Tricks You Should Know
 - Cardholders have the upper hand as card issuers compete over pricing and value. Learn how to minimize your costs and perhaps maximize your returns.(Feb 97)

Past Commentaries
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